WOULD YOU EVER GO DOWN A MINE WITHOUT A LAMP?

Surely the most important thing a miner needs when working underground is light. I’m sure that you, working underground as a miner, would agree with that. It is impossible to do any work in the darkness. The miner needs light for two main purposes:

  • To guide him to where he is going
  • To show him the where the mineral ore (or coal) is to be found

Miners have been using lights underground for thousands of years. We know that even 4,000 years ago flaming torches were taken down the earliest mines by men seeking to find gold, silver, copper and precious stones in the rocks below. The darkness in these early mines was overcome by flickering light, and so the treasures of the earth were revealed for the miner to see and extract from the rock. Before electric light and electric batteries became available less than 150 years ago, miners used candles and oil lamps. But in coal mines particularly these were dangerous to use, as the naked light could often ignite methane gas leading to explosions.

Without light the miner is like a blind person – unable to see the way forward. The darkness in the mine without light is total. If the light fails completely in the mine, then the miner is in trouble. He is in difficulty. He is lost. In the world we live in there is darkness too. No, it is not the darkness of the night, but the spiritual darkness which is to be found in everyone born on this planet. This darkness can be total too. There are two types of darkness to be found in our hearts:

  • Moral darkness – this makes us unable to live in the right way, however hard we try. We are lost – just as the miner is lost in a mine without any light.
  • Spiritual darkness – this means we are unable to find the real meaning of living – just as the miner without light cannot locate the ore in the mine.

Just as the miner has to make sure that light will be in the mine so that he can find his way to the precious minerals, so we all need to make sure we find the light to overcome the darkness in our hearts – both moral and spiritual. There is a word used in the Bible for this darkness – it is the word SIN. Sin is serious – serious for us and serious to God. God cannot tolerate sin in any form – whether it is lying or cheating, stealing or violence, pride or anger, hatred or jealousy or any of the other evil passions and habits that can so easily control our lives. God cannot accept any darkness – why? Because GOD IS LIGHT in Him there is no darkness at all!

But God in His great love and mercy sent us a Rescuer into the darkness of this world to save us – with a power to change our sinful hearts and to transform our wrong behaviour towards others. Just like a rescue party coming to the aid of a lost or trapped miner underground, so God sent down to earth a Saviour to lead us out of the darkness of sin into the LIGHT of the fullness of life. Who is this person? He is Jesus Christ -‘the Light of the world’. Only He has the power to make us right with God. It is not something we can do ourselves. We need to make our way to the foot of the cross of Jesus, where we will find forgiveness of our sins.

Just as any miner trapped in the darkness, lost in the mine, will move towards any light that he sees, so the ‘LIGHT’ of Jesus Christ beckons you to Him. Let Jesus be your rescuer. Jesus can be your refuge, if you are willing to repent of your sins. If you want it, Jesus will willingly take your eternal punishment upon Himself. He will provide you with His grace and power to set you free from the darkness of sin and failure. All you must do is to accept the offer Jesus makes.

‘Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ It is your choice. Are you going to stay lost in the darkness of your sinful life or come into the light that is Jesus Christ?

Some references to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, from God’s Word, the Holy Bible:

Jesus Christ declares, “I am the light of the world: he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Gospel of John, Chapter 8, verse 12

The work of Jesus Christ in this world: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 26, verse 18

Jesus Christ declares, “I am come into the world as a light, so that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.” Gospel of John, Chapter 12, verse 46

The International Miners’ Mission – ‘Introducing Miners to the Master’ 53 High Street, Kimpton, Hitchin, Herts. England dshillitoe@minersmission.com web: www.minersmission.com

 

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